Two totally unrelated pics:
1. Q & A a Day: Five Year Journal. I spotted this in my end-all-be-all favorite catalog the other day and quickly added it to my "Wish List". In this clever little journal you are asked a different question each day ("Who is your nemesis"?, "In three words, describe your love life", "What word did you overuse today"?, and then you are asked the same question exactly one year later. What a great way to chronicle the changes in your life. I desperately want this $16.99 little book.
2. Travelling Through France By Barge. In casual conversation yesterday, my best friend Carrie mentioned that she wants to see France by barge. Huh?? She explained that it is a super-cool and relatively cheap way to get off the beaten path in France. Count me in!
Here's how it works. You can rent a barge that sleeps 4 to 8 (depending on the boat), load it up with groceries and just start driving through the canals of France.
Seriously.
You don't need to know how to drive a boat, the rental company will teach you. You can also rent bikes and take them with you. When you stop in a small town, get the bikes out and see the countryside! I can totally envision my girls with cute pigtails riding through France as I ride out in front of them -- very "Sound of Music" (of course, that was Austria). I'll have to tear down the curtains and make the girls some jumpers!
When you pull into small towns, the local people warmly greet you and peddle their wares -- fresh fruits, cheeses, breads, honey, etc. Does that sound like heaven, or what?
I've checked into it and it seems I can book the family for an entire week for less than $1,500. If you're interested in this idea, here are some links:
A great New York Times article about one family's trip
A shorter travel journal by another family
A lengthy description by the Hamilton family (a wonderful article)
A rental company with reasonable rates
Now, I'm going to go put the soundtrack to "Chocolat" on the trusty iPod and dream of becoming a "river person" in France.
